Saudi women can now work as tourist guides

JEDDAH — Saudi women can now become tourist guides and obtain licenses from the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage (SCTNH).

Answering a question, Badr Al-Obaid, director of the hospitality sector nationalization at SCTNH, said that starting this year Saudi women can get licenses to work as tourist guides.

He advised women to check the SCTNH website to know the regulations required to obtain the tourist guide license.

Speaking at Women Empowerment and Integration Forum here on Sunday, he said the SCTNH is keen to implement Saudization at different levels in the tourism sector. He said training programs have been provided to more than 8,000 Saudi youth to engage them in the job market.

More than 400 Saudis have been sent on scholarships abroad during the last two years to prepare qualified individuals to join the tourism sector.

The SCTNH also supports the youth who want to invest in the tourism sector in line with the demands of the Saudi Vision 2030.

Hessa Al-Mazroa, first Saudi female director at a hotel in the Kingdom, spoke at the forum about the challenges of working in an establishment that requires international standers.

Women empowerment comes with responsibilities, she added.

Eman Rajhan, director of women’s affairs department at the Ministry of Labor and Social Development in Makkah region, said Saudi youth are capable of serving the country.

She spoke about the different programs offered by the ministry to empower women through part-time jobs and distance work programs along with the transportation and nursery services.